Unispark ignition system.



E. S. LINCOLN.

UNISPARK IGNITION SYSTEM. APPLIOATION FILED SEPI. a, 1910. RENEWED FEB. 27, 1912.

, 1,039,973. Pa en ed 001 1, 1912.

lllll Ma, A242, M1 H W Zfla'tnesses: I jnvenor.

@Zazm gizing circuit. y

' sTArns PATENT- orr on.

EDWIN s. LINCOLN, or :BnooxLmE, massncnusnrrs; ASSIGNOR 'ro ELECTRIC GOODS MANUFACTURING COMIANY; A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

unrsrsnk reunion SYSTEM;

Specification of. Letters I'atent.

Patented'Oct. 1,1912.

Application flled septemher 8, 1910, Serial No. 580,395. Renewed February 27', 1912. Serial m). 680,164.

Tamil-whom tamay 00mm:-

I 3e it know t at'I, EDW-IN' c1 izenzof t-h nited St-a tes, residing at Brookline, inthe count of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certainnewand useful Improvements in Uni- SParklgnition S stems; of'whichathe following- 1s a speci cation.

My invention ingeneralrelates to electide-systems design to induce-a high tension-electmc current adapted to cause an electric discharge betweenelectrically sepa rated-electrodes,andmore especially has reference to-ignition systems in which are included a battery, or similar source of elec trical energy,

and a circuit interrupter or circuit' breaker embodying separable contacts intercalated in the-encrg1zingfcircuit, and an electro-magnet for causin the separationof said contacts and for t ereby interrupting the ener- For v the purpose of securing economyv in thei-cor'isfimption of electric current in ignimaker or distributor is employedfor inter mittently. lacing the battery inenergizing I relation ,w-tth the desired primary winding,- 30

forthe brief period during which the system isdesigned tobecome operative as an igniting agencyx In ordertosecure still further economy -1n current-consumption, arrange ments. which serve to modify the action of the circuit.

terru'pt'er, intercala'ted in the energizing-circuit of the ignition system,

havebeeu adopted so that the-system'operatesto produce-but a single spark during the =peri'odwhen the distributor operates, to connect the batter'y in energizingrelation withthe inductioniooil.

Myi-inv'ention applies moreespeoially to ignition 'systemsin hich the modification Ofthe. actionof the circuit interrupter for the urpose of securing but asingle. ac ion oftt e ignition system 1S 'S eC11I'd. by the use i whichz are provided simmerin of-fan electro-magnet for operating or actuiating the circuit interrupter or breaker, in

twomagnetizing windingsone winding being of coarse wire and embodying a 'lowresistance, andthe other windingbeinguof fine-wire with a high re-' 'nctionof the; coarse winding S. I LINCOLN,

an induction-coil having a primary circuit energized by said battery,.

a contact ing'is arranged being to initiate a discharge producing a movement of the'moving element of the cir cult breaker into its open circuit position,

and the function of the fine winding being the clrcuit breaker, and interrupt the flowof the energizing current in a manner familiar to those conversant in the art. When such disengagement of the separable contacts occurs,the interruption to the flow of current through the coarse magnetizing Winding would result in the demagnetization of the electro-ma'gnet and the separable v contacts of the circuit breaker would again re'ngage, restoring the circuit breaker to its original closed-circuit condition were it not for the flow of current. in the fine magnetiz ing winding whlch, being ordinarily 7 connected in parallel with the coarse magnetizing winding, and arranged as a shuntcircuit around the separable 'c0n tactsof the circuit interrupter, ofi'ers an alternativepath for the flow of current adapted to 'magnetize said'magnet. Owing to the high resistance of the finemagnetizing winding the flow of such current is small, butit is so calculated as to produce a sufficient magnetization in the magnet to retain the movable circuitof.

the circuit interrupter in 'i't s opencircuit condition and thereby to interrupt the flow of the main or energizing current until the system is electrically disconnected from the source of energy by tributer or timer. A I

Ignition, systems embodying an electromagnet having plural windings arranged and operating as above set fortlrhave hitherto presented to the fact that the fine magnetizing windas-a shunt only to that porcludcd-thecoarse magnetizing winding and the separable contacts the disadvantages which are duethe action of the. disnon-0r the energizingcircuit in which is in- I circuit intcIH rupter, so as to establish a permanently closed circuit around such portion of the energizing circuit among which disadvantages may be mentioned the following. After the circuit breaker has operated to interrupt the flow of current which passes through the coarse magnet zing the primary circuit by theaction of the"eii-- i cuit interrupter. In addition, owing to the fact that the condenser, which is preferably included as a part of the ignition system, is electrically connected in shunt around the separable contacts of the circuit'interrupter,

said condenser, in the separated posit-ionof.

the circuit interrupter contacts, is itself short-circuited through the fine magnetizing winding, which shunt circuits the said separable contactsj By vreason of the short circuiting of the condenser as aforesaid through the fine magnetizing winding, the action ofthe condenser is retarded and the etlicieney of the ignition system as a whole is, in consequence, impaired. Furthermore since in the ignition systems employing an electromagnet having plural windings as above described, -the fine magnetizing winding has been connected in parallel with and as a shunt directly around the terminals of the coarse magnetizing winding, and around the separable contacts of the circuit breaker, such coarse winding being'included in the energizing circuit, it will result, because of the relatively high resistance of the fine magnetizing winding as compared With the substantially resistance-free circuit, through the coarse" winding and the separable con- "cacts"; that little or no current will pass throughst-he fine winding until after the in- 'terrupti on of the energizing circuit by reason of the actuation of the circuit breaker. Because of these considerations it will follow-that thecoarse winding will become energized first, and a flow of magnetizing current through the fine winding of the electro magnet will not occur until, by reason' of the interruption of the main energizin'g circuit through the coarse. Winding by the action of the circuit breaker, the fine winding alone is left available as'a path for the flow of current from the source .of energy. In other words the coarse winding and the .fine winding become energized in successiom'and not contemporaneously, the

In consetwo-cylindered motor,

fine Winding remaining inactive until the interruption of the energizing circuit through. the coarse winding by the operation of the circuit breaker.

It is the object of my invention to obviate the objections heretofore pointed out as incident to the use of a circuit interrupter magnet having plural windings arranged and connected substantially as hereinbefore described.

My invention, therefore, consists in a combination of electricalapparatus ada )ted for use in a high tension discharge pro ucing system, and including a circuit breaker having an electro-magnet provided high and low resistance magnetizing windings, so arranged and electrically interconnected in such manner as to secure the electrical separation of the high resistance mugwith net winding from the primary circuit of the induction coil, to avoidthe short circuiting of the condenser by the fine magnetizing Winding, and further to secure such an arrangement of the said apparatus that both higli'2resistance and low resistance magnetizing windings are energized contempora-K iieously, so that the combined magnetic at traction due to the energization of both windings 1S simultaneously exerted upon the circuit breaker armature,.and thereby produces a more rapid acceleration of the armature and a quicker action of the-said circuit breaker than can be secured in a circuit breaker having two magnetizing windings which act successively.

My invention is shown in two of its preferred forms in the accompanying drawings in which, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View showing my invention in its preferred form. is a diagrammatic view presenting a slightly modified form of*my invent-ion.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, which shows an ignition system embodying my invention as preferably applied to a l-represents a battery or other source of electric energy. At 2 is indicated the primary winding of an induction coil; the senondary winding, 3,

of the same, being adapted to energize spark points, 4, located in usual manner, in one of the motor cylinders. Similarly at 5 is shown the primary winding of a second induction coil, whose secondary winding, 6,

cat-ed in another cylinder of the motor. At 8 is represented the rotating arm of a circuit controlling device hereinafter termed a distrilniter-timer, said arm being adapted to make contact at both ends coil contact block 9 and the magnet contact block '10, and in a se nd operative posi-- tion with-the coil contact block 11 and the magnet contact block 12, said. contact blocks 130 is adapted to energize spark points, 7, lo-

I contempo- 1 25 raneously, in one operative position with the I nested in v jiust hereinbetorementioned.. The magnettwo independent wind).

m mas a contact screw 1 6 preferabl ad justab'ly v mountedimalrigid supportfll". 'lihe contactltili carried I vupon the said; adjustable contact screw and upon the armature 14. are hereinafitertermedthe separable contacts oil the circuit inter rnpter, At;- 18 isa condenser'which isoom shunt around: separable contacts 13 is presided: ings 1 9. and: 202 The winding; 19'- isoil coarse wire with low resistance, while the winding- 25 20 is=o fine wire having a relatiwfely resistance The elements hereinbefiore describe d are interconnected; preferaibl in: the following manner. (Onete'rminaxlo the'primary wind 34;. ing- 2fis connectedto coil contact block 10', v and similarly,- one terminal. of the primary is connected to coil contactiblock- 11.. The other terminals oli both primary 2am]; 5. are: electrically connected 5 by? a single conductor 21 with the screw support 17 and thence. through screw 16,

a the: separabltx contacts oi the circuit interrupterand strip- 151 with one: terminal oft the low resistance. winding L9; Theother terminal of said. winidliiug 1:9 is con-.

nected to one polls of? the battery I; the other pole being connected with the rotating arm 8; of the: distribnter-tiimer; The-mainor energizing circuit, that is the: circuit from 5; the battery 1. through one of the primarywindingsr-i'l or." 5-

throu' h; the coarse magnetizing winding isthere one: completed when the: rotating arm. 8 is; in engagement either with contact block. 10; onwith contact an: blnck ll respectiwelyz.

The magnet contact blocks. 9 and 12 are connected by a eoimnon conductor 22 with one: terminal of: the. time 'windingfQO: oi the: cilantro-magnet.- the other terminal oithe ma said! wimifingr being: connected" into the:

as. at Q3, It will therefore. evil-- dnmt that, when therotating arm 8.- i8% i1'l2 meet either with contact block 9- -01!- 1i2-,. current firorm the battery 11''. will flow:

I so through the primary winding 211-.

y manner 2 ri terr'r-i er arrives wh rein iii stews inncntion operates. in: the tollowing As the rotating arm ,8 otthedisinto} the position. =ig. 11,] set as toibein ceatempnrsneens electrical engagement with the; contact 141 carried,

pole ofthe battery 1,.passing into the rotat me am} cuit, that-11 s, by way of'coil contact 10* andthe primary winding 2 of one induct-ion. ,coil, through the separable contacts of the- ;circuit breaker and through the'coarse wind- ;ing 19' of the .electro-magnet back to the Etherbattery pole. At the same time said cu-rrent will flow by a separate circuit from arm 8 through the magnet contact 9, andiconductor 22 and willtrav erse the" fine. @windi-ng of theYelectro-magnet. The mag netization. produced by the flow of current :through i movablearmature- 14 and cause the separait'i'on of the contact 141 carried thereon from ;the contact 161 located on the adjustable gscrew 16. The resulting disengagement of fsai'd separable contacts will serve to sudtdenly interrupt the, energizing circuit which ttravcrse's the coarse winding offthe electroiof the inductioncoil such interruption irenderin-g the induction coil operative to produce a' high tension discharge at the. @spark points 4; in

ev'ident; however, that the flow of current ithrough; the line winding of the electro-- magnet is not interrupted by thei'operation of the circuit-breaker but that current will continue to, flow ,through said fine winding 'so longasrotating arr'nof'thc distributera ;timer is in contact with' contact member 9'. The magnetism so produced in the elec- Ttro-magnet in consequence of such'flow is. sufficient to retain the movable armature. 14; att racted to the .magnea andf t-he' main circuit is consequently interruptedthroughout'the continuance of'the engagement beit'ween the arm 8 and the contact block 9. {Assuming that the contact blocks comprising eachset are site toeachother, and that the members of gthe second set of contact blocks are located :a-t an angle of 90 froin'fthose ofthe first Zset, it will be apparentthat after the dis gtributer-timer arm 101": one revolution, gporaneously engage the arm 8"will contemthe contact blocks 11 and 12', comprising the second set ofconqtact blocks, and the. ignition vsystem will ithereupon iforth to: produce a spark. In this instance, ghowever, the primary winding 0t icoil 5' twill-be energized, and a spark" will. be pro-- jdtuced:

flarm 8 into; contemporarieous engagement .with the members of the first set 0 the (cen tact blocks, the said arm howeyer,,beingnow advanced 180 so as to-occ' upy.v a-pesition diametrically oppositeto that whiah was hereinaboue first described.

the electro-magnet will attract the.

magnet: and energizes the primaryiwinding coil contact block 10 and the magnet contact block 9;form1-ng ene set, current fromonef 8, will flow through the main cirthe usual manner.. It is located diametrically oppohas rotated one quarter againoperate as hereinabovenset Q- at spark points 7." A further rotati'on of 90 will bring the distributer-timer' i v 7 a further rotation of the distributer-timer arm through 90 will again bring the same into contemporaneous engagement with the members of the second set of contact-blocks, the said arm, however, occupying a diametrically opposite position to that'just hereinabo've described. Thus it will be apparent that the embodiment of the ignition system as' described will operate to produce two sparks at each'pair of spark points alter-' nately during a single rotation of the distributer-timer arm. c

In Fig. 2 is resented ,a somewhat modified arrangem nt of my invention. As he- 1 winding 2*" V spark points 4.

fore 8 is the rotating arm of a timer adapt- 7 ed to contemporaneously contact in one of its operative positions with the magnet contact block 9 and the coil contact block 10 forming one "set, andin another of its po'-' 'sitions with the coil contact block 11 and the magnet contact block 12" forming a. secondset. Said coil contact block 10* is connected with one terminal of the primary of an induction coil having a secondary winding?) adapted to energize The coil contact block '11 is similarly connected to one terminal of the primary winding 5 of another induction coil having a secondary winding adapted to energize a second set of spark oints 7. The other terminals of both sai primary windings 2 and 5 are connected, by 'a.

conductor 21'? through the separable contacts 161 and 141 of a circuit interrupter and carried respectively upon the adjustable contact screw 16* andupon the movable armature 14, todn'e pole of battery 1 The other pole of said battery is connected through a low resistance winding 19 of coarsewire adapted to magnetize an electro-magnet 13 by .whlchsaid circuit inter:

rupter is actuated. The other terminal of said coarse windingisconnected through a conductor 22 both to said contact block 9 and said contact block 12*. Said electromagnet is also provided with a fine winding of highresistance; one terminal of the same being electrically connected with the rotating arm 8 of the timer in anyapproved manv block 9.

is established which lea ner and its other terminal being-connected with on'e pole of the battery 1.

Thefembodiment of my invention just described operates as follows: When the disthe battery 1 again. At the sametime current will flow from battery 1 through the fine winding 20 of the magnet into the distributer-timer arm 8 and back to the bat- .tery through the relay contact 9 and the coarse magnetizing winding 19. On'the establishment of the circuits just mentioned the resulting magnetization of the electrov magnet '13 will attract the movable armature 14 and will thereby cause the disengagement of the separablel'contacts 141 and 161 of the circuit interrupter. .In consequence the circuit through the induction coil 2 will be interrupted and a high ten-,i sion discharge will be produced at the spark points 4%. After the interruption of the main circuit by the operation -of the circuit breaker current will continue to flow through the fine winding 20 of the magnet, such current although being of small volume opcrating to magnetize said magnet after the cessation of the flow of current through the coarse winding sufficiently to retain the circuit'lbreaker in its open circuit condition during the continuance of the contact 190- tween the 'distributer-timer arm and the magnet contact block. As above pointed out in connection with Fig. 1, the operation above described will be repeated at each quarter rotation of the distributer-time'r arm, and a s ark produced at each pair of spark'points lteriiately. In either embodiment of the invention just described this disengagement of the distributer-timer armfrom the contact blocks will 1 interrupt the current through the fine winding, whereupon the circuit interrupter will resume 1ts normal or closed circult condit on and which Wlll remain m such condltion' until the distributer-timer again comes into one of its operative positions. I It will be evident .in my ignition system the advantages incident to theuse of the electro-magnet having plural windings are secured, while at the same time the arrange- 11o ment of the apparatus employed in'such sysa tem, in accordance with my invention results n increased advantages over s milar systems as known in the prior art. The will becomeevident from the. consideration that in my invention, after! the interruption of the main or energizing circuit through the primary winding by the action of theclrcult interrupter, no current whatever will flow through'the primary winding of the induction coil. Consequently the-complete deenergization of the said coil will render the same more effective as an inductive means than would be the case were the 'current tro-magnetpermitted to flow through the energihing circuit after the operation of the circuit interru ter. I

It will furt ermorebe noted that 111 my which energizes the fine winding of the elec- 1 25 invention the condenser is not short clrcal efiiciency of-theinductive systemas a suited through the fine magnetiaiiig winding 5 as is the case in similar devices as 1s hereto fore known in the prior art, and the electriwhole is thereby considerably increased. In addition it will be noted that by the use of my invention are" secured the advan tages which result from a contemporaneous actionof both coarse and fine magnetizing magnetic attraction uponthe circuit breaker armature attracts the said armature more quickly and thereby-produces a quicker action of the circuit interrupter than can be secured in apparatus of a similar nature where the coarse and the fine windings act in succession and not contemporaneously, such increased rapidity in the action of the circuit breaker resulting in an increased etficiency in the inductive capacity of the inductive means with which said circuit inter rupter is combined.

It is evident that my invention may be applied without substantial change to an ignition system having but a single induction coil, in which case onl of twocooperating coil an magnet contact blocks will be required; In such case :he' distributer-timer may be more properly regarded as merely a' timing device. However, as hereinbefore appears, when a plurality of induction coils are employed, the,

distributer'timer combines in itself the functions both of connecting the battery in energizing relation with a selected induction] coil, and of timing the moment of energizing the system; Hence I employ the term distributer-timer in connection with a circuit cont-rolling device adapted for use in an ignition system embodying a plurality of induction COIlS.

Having described my invention, I claim,

1. In an ignition system, in combination with a source of electric energy, an induction coil, circuit interrupting means emb'odying separable contacts and having a low resistancemagnetizing winding for separating said contacts and a high resistance magnetizing winding for retaining said con tacts in/their separated position when said 'low resistance magnetiz ng winding is inoperative, a timer having a plurality of contact elements and a moving member adaptelements in the operative positions of the timer, said source of energy in such operative timer positions-dieing electrically connected through said -inoving member and one of saidcontact elementsand through GUthe; separable contacts, in ener 'zingfrelation thei induction coil an with saidlowre'sistanoe winding, and bein also, in 'such operatlve timer positions, e ectrically connected'through said moving member and ofith'rough another contact element inenergiza single set relation with \the, high .-resistance wind- 2. In an ignition system, combination with a.-source of electric energy, an undue tion coil, a-c1rcu1t interrupter embodying separable contacts and having-an electro-' magnet for separating said contacts provided with a high resistance winding and a-low resistance windin a timer having windings which, exerting their v combined a coil contact. member an a magnet contact member and a moving member adapted to contemporaneously engage bothsaid coil contact and said magnet-contact member in the operative positions of thetimer, said source of energy in such operative timer positions being electrically connected through said moving member and said coil contact member and through the separable contacts, in energizing relation with said coil and with said low resistance winding, and being also in such operative timer positions "electrically connected through said moving member and said magnet contact member in ener Zing relation with said high resistance win ing.

with a source of electric energy, an induction coil having a primary windin' a cir cuit interrupter embodying separa'le contacts and having an electro-magnet provided with,,a high-resistance winding and a low-' resistance winding for separating-said con tacts; a timer having a coil contact. member and a magnet contact memberand a moving member ,in contemporaneous electrical engagement with both saidcoil contact member and said magnet contact mem- I ber in the operative positions of the timer,

said source of energy in such operative timer positions being electrically-connected through said moving member and said coil contact member and through said separable contacts, in energizing re ation with said primary winding and with said low-resistance magnetizing winding, and being also in such 0 erative timer positions electrically connecte and said. magnet contact member in energizing relation with said high-resistance winding.

a source of electric energy, an induction coil having .a nmary winding, a circuit through said moving member v interrupter em odying separable contacts"- and having an electro-magnet provided-with a high-resistance magnetizing winding and a low-resistance magnetizin winding for seflarating said contacts, a timer having a stationary element carrying a coil contact 125.4

member and a magnet contact member and a rotating 1 element electrically engaging said coil contact member and said magnet operative positipns of the timer, means eleccontact member contemporaneously in the v a oo- -3. Inan ignition system, in combination I I 4. In an 'ignitionsystem, in combination,

in such operative positions of the timer through said moving element and the coil contactmember and through the low-resistance magnetizing winding and said separable contacts in series with the primary Winding, and means contemporaneously electrlcally connect ng said source of energy, 111

such operative timer position through the netlzing Winding and a high-resistance contact members,

engaging said 0011 contact members succesmagnetizing winding for separating said contacts, a distributer-timer having a stationary element carrying a plurality of coil contact members and a plurality of magnet and a rotating element sively in the course of its rotation and contemporaneously With each such engagement contacting with a magnet con tact member, a plurality of coil energizing circuits, each circuit including a coil contact member, a selected -primary winding, said separable contacts and the low-resistance magnetizing winding, and" a second circuit electrically exclusive of said primary windings and including said source of energy and said highresistance winding, each of said energizing circuits being closed in succession through the moving "element of the distributortimer as I it engages with a corresponding coil contactmember, and said second circuit being closed contemporaneously with the closing of'each energlzing circuit by thggan gagement of said moving element wit a magnet contact member.

'In test1mony whereof I afiix my signature in presence 0t two Witnesses.

. I EDWIN s. LINCOLN.

Witnesses:

NATHAN B. DAY, CHAS. ERANBALL.

Copies of this pate ht may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

